Improvement in fernery



marasma latroci @with y Latas Paauw. oazta'aataz september 28,1869.

IMPRoVEMENT IN FERNERY.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making pari: of the same.

To all whoml it' may4 concern Beit known that I, CHARLES L. .OsBonN,-of the State, city, and county of New York,have invented an Improved Fernery; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying `drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of the seen from the front and end.

Figure 2 is a top view of the base only.

lFigure 3 is a vertical section of the whole.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the base.

Figure 5 shows part of the top of the case.

Figure 6 shows part of the lid, under side.

Prominent features of this invention are- V A system of ventilation in connection with an airtight case. p

b The arrangement of\awaterspace around the earthfernery, as

' The provision of ahollow space beneath the earth- The form and construction of the earth-box, and other features, hereinafter described.

The fernery is comprised of a suitable case, A, usually formed of a metallic frame set with glass sides, anda hollow metallic base, B.

The base B contains the earthLbox D, inwhich the plants are rooted. f Y p A channel or water-space, 3, surrounds the earthbox and receives and holds the water by which the earth and plants are supplied with moisture.

The'earth-box has a perforated bottom, 4f,` and is elevated from the bottom of the base B', leaving a space, 5, which may be filled with a fertilizing-sub- I stance with or without water; and the perforations in the bottom 4 permit the rootlets of the plants toreceive moisture from below. i

To give the largest space for theroots of the plants .and the greatest possible evaporatingLsintface` of water in thechannel 3, the latter is made 'yvide at the top and contracted at the bottom, by inclining the sides .of the earth-box.

The case A is furnished with a 'hinged lid, A2,

which lid shuts down air-tight upon a raised rim or ledge, 1ar'ound the top of the case', a strip of rubber',l 2, being attached to the under side of the lid as a packing.

'Ihe lidis held down' by suitable catches 8.

p The lower part of the case A'has a rim A1, which, when the case is set in its place on-the base, reaches down into the water-space or channel 3, and forms a water-joint, thus rendering the fern'ery entirely airtight. i

Tater-ways E F are arranged on the outside of the base B, to receive and conductwater to the interior.

` E communicates with the bottom of the channel 3, and F with the space beneath the earth-box.

The-sides of the latter have perforations 7, near the upper edge, and the water in the channel 3 overflows and trickles slowly through them to the earth inside.

ormally, a fernery is presumed air-tight. This* invention, however, is not to be conined to the growing of ferns proper, but is intended for any soit of plants whatsoever.

And in order to adapt the article to such plants as 'Ventilating-apertures, having valves to shut off -or admitethe air to the interior as required.

3. Ip' combination with au air-tight fernery, an earth-box, having a perforated bottoni.`

4. In combination with such earth-box, the space beneath it for fertilizers, or other purposes.

5. rlhe perforations T, inthe sides ofthe earth-box, to allow the percolation of the water from the waterspace, and the watering of the earth by overflow.

. 6. In combination with the water-spaces within the base, the application of the water-ways to the outside of the base communicating with the-water-spaces at the bOttOln.

.CHARLES L. OSBORN.

Witnesses:

EARLE II. SMITH, WM. H. J oHNsoN. 

